Returned to the search again this winter and unravelled another brick wall! Had found my g.g. grandfather's sister Mary Ann or Marian MITCHELL born 1842 Strathdon daugher of William MITCHELL and Margaret GRASSICK. She had several children with her husband Thomas WILSON all of whom I've traced. However she had one other daughter Helen born 1883 (Thomas died in 1875) registered as WILSON. She lost her Poor Relief for this . I could not trace this Helen for some time until I discovered she had changed her name to Helen MITCHELL her not being a WILSON anyway. Thereafter things got easier. She married John McCONNACHIE in 1911 and had a daughter also called Helen. This younger Helen got her MA from Aberdeen University in 1934 and taught in Turriff and in Bridge of Don. She lived to 95 years of age in Portlethen, only dying in 2007. I've gone to Aberdeen so many times - how I wish I had 'found' her in time to get in touch - imagine what she might have been able to tell me about the family in Scotland and why there was no contact between her grandmother Marian and my g.g. grandfather Peter. Ah well, so be it - mind you I've been in touch with people she taught since and who were able to tell me how lovely she was. Great to think that her life was good as life was very difficult for all of them in Aberdeenshire for earlier generations.
Tish

Well done! It's always nice to put some family tree pieces together. It's particularly lively that you got to speak t people who knew her. I've recently come into contact with some long lost cousins who can tell me all about their grandmother, my great great aunt. It makes everything so much more meaningful when you can hear about the lives of the ancestors on a more personal level, rather than just a bundle of facts and census returns.